The Present Moment – 5 Ways To Live A Zen Life Today

By Ashley Fernandes, a Life’s Rails Blog Contributer

The wise words of Eckhart Tolle tell us,

“The present moment is all you ever have. There is never a time when your life is not ‘this moment.”

My, how time flies when…

In our fast-paced society, we are often focused on creating bright futures that we tend to forget our present. It’s easy to become overwhelmed with the obstacles we face today and to look forward to a future free of burden or struggle. Often, we forget how life is naturally a series of ebbs and flows rather than a linear path…

The truth is, this very moment was once your future. Most likely, there was a time, perhaps not long ago, when you were desperately wishing for freedom from your struggles. You may have hoped for a future where happiness is abundant; one without stress or anxiety to keep you from being who you were truly meant to be. 

In other words, you were detached from your present and feeling hopeless in despair.

Perhaps the most prominent teaching in the Zen-Buddhist philosophy of living mindfully is to live presently, and therefore simply. In a life where we constantly think of better days ahead, the day we are currently living often seems dull and unexciting. Living in the present moment, however, should be about making the most of what you have now. It is seeing the present for what it really is — a chance for change, growth and renewal.

Instead of looking toward a future you cannot see, seize what is right in front of you and romanticize it, take care of it, enjoy it. With five easy ways to live the Zen way in mind, let the life you live now fill every part of your soul with contentment and pride.

Take Care of Your Mind, Body and Soul

Self-care is nearly as important as breathing. Without a willingness to take care of yourself, it is easy to develop an unhealthy mindset where you regard yourself as worthless and incapable of achieving your goals and desires. When you feel good about your mind and body, you don’t want it to end… You learn to live in the present moment where it feels good. 

Sometimes the idea of doing something for yourself can seem crazy, especially if you are used to constantly giving and hardly receiving. If this is the case, consider taking small steps toward seeing yourself as worthy of being loved and cared for just as much as anyone else. Begin with daily affirmations such as, “I believe in me,” “I am deserving of happiness, love, success and all that I desire,” and “I appreciate myself as I am.” As time progresses, you will see positive changes in the attitude in which you think about yourself. You may begin to see the present moment as the perfect time for you to heal, learn and love yourself!

Accept Where You Are Now

Not everyone is at a point in their lives where they fall in love, make tons of money, and have the “white picket fence” dream life. For most, this takes years of dedication, sacrifice, and hard work. Many of us are in periods of growth, building strength, and other life skills to help us move forward. Accepting that you may not be there just yet, can be key to making you more aware of the importance of the present moment.

Acceptance of your current life comes with the understanding that the world is your oyster. 

Start seeing your morning commute as a journey toward success and prosperity. Pop those earbuds in on your breaks and listen to podcasts and audiobooks on self-improvement to get you motivated Above all, understand that you are exactly where you need to be at this very moment — but perhaps for another reason than you may think. Maybe there is someone you need to meet or an obstacle you have to face… The universe ultimately does not make mistakes.

Make Small but Drastic Changes

One of the most poetic aspects of life is the fact that the only thing stopping ourselves from doing anything…is our mind. At any moment, we could hop on a train to Alaska or book a one-way flight to Fiji without telling anyone. Of course, those changes are not always reasonable in our realm of reality. 

Still, small but drastic changes are, and can change your entire outlook on life in the best way possible.

These changes may include: dying your hair that colour you always wanted, or even chopping it all off… Applying to that dream job just to see what happens… Going to your nearest coffee shop and spilling all your secrets to the barista. Life isn’t meant to be on a standstill. Take control of your life by changing it little by little, perhaps everyday or every month… Until you are living out at least one of your dreams or goals.

Enjoy the Little Things

The Danish have a word called “hygge,” which means the simple joys of life, as well as acknowledging the feeling of wholesomeness and serenity that they offer. Practicing hygge is easy — just take a situation that would otherwise be commonplace or ordinary and see the beauty deep within. It’s about recognizing that beauty was always there, to begin with. Yet it often takes time, with reflection and a change of perspective, to notice it.

As you converse with family or friends, take a moment to look around and see the expressions. Are they smiling or laughing? Perhaps they need some cheering up — try and see the beauty in doing so. Notice the colour of the sky as you step outside, or the slight breeze you feel on your skin. The present moment has little things that show you how to live mindfully if you are willing to listen.

Regard Discomfort as Growth

The Buddhists regard life’s hurdles as opportunities for positive growth and learning from past mistakes. There is no negativity in failure — only the reassuring knowledge that improvement is on its way…To trust the hidden guidance in your faults.

Buddhist nun, Pema Chodron, suggests a method to this. Rather than running away from your present ailment, try and let the feeling of hopelessness, anxiety, or sadness sit inside you. Do not force it away. When we try and shut out our feelings because it hurts or doesn’t make us feel good, we are giving those thoughts the power to control us. Allow yourself to feel it in every part of you, then cast it aside gently. In her book, “When Things Fall Apart,” Chodron shares her input on this topic well: 

“We can be with what’s happening and not dissociate. Awakeness is found in our pleasure and our pain, our confusion and our wisdom, available in each moment of our weird, unfathomable, ordinary everyday lives.”

To live in the present moment means to accept it for all that it has to offer. It means living within a mindset that does not look behind. Not planning decades ahead yet seeing opportunities, goodness, and prosperity lurking in every corner. To live in the now, look right in front of you and smile.